The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is reminding New Yorkers of basic safety tips ahead of Memorial Day weekend. As the warm weather approaches, summer safety tips are guides for enjoying, working, and living during the summer without compromising safety.
“Memorial Day marks the starts of the season in which New Yorkers begin the planning for outdoor activities to have fun and enjoy the water, playground, sports and family gatherings,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “As the warm weather approaches, the NYS Division of Consumer Protections reminds all about the importance of following simple tips that can keep us all safe while we share memorable summer moments with family and friends.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “As New Yorkers come together with family and friends to celebrate the start of summer. I encourage everyone to take a few simple precautions to ensure a safe and healthy Memorial Day weekend,” “From practicing water safety and protecting yourself from the sun, ticks, and mosquitoes, to staying alert around grills, these small steps can go a long way in preventing illness and avoiding emergencies—helping everyone enjoy a relaxing and joyful holiday weekend.”
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Summer means lots of outdoor activities including making s’mores around a campfire, so please do it safely and responsibly! Make sure campfires are allowed in the area, never leave your fire unattended, and be certain that the fire is completely out before leaving.”
The Division of Consumer Protection offers the following tips to consumers:
HEAT SAFETY TIPS:
- Keep children and pets safe. Never leave them unsupervised in hot cars.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15 years of age. Heat stroke can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees F. Parents and caregivers, get in the habit of always checking the back seat of your car before locking the doors. Never leave a child or pet in an unattended vehicle in the warm weather, not even with the windows slightly open or down, due to the risk of heatstroke (hyperthermia). To learn how to prevent hot car deaths, review our consumer alert on the topic.
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Stay informed. Check weather forecasts and sign-up for NY-Alert, the State’s Free Emergency Alert System to stay aware of any heatwaves or severe weather.
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Beat the heat. Minimize, if possible, strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun's peak hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Stay safe. During periods of extreme heat, keep yourself and your family safe by reviewing heat safety tips from the NYS Department of Health and finding a cooling center near you.
CHILDREN SAFETY TIPS:
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Ensure playground safety. Check playground equipment for damage. To check if your public playground is safe to play, review the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Checklist.
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Supervise water activities. Always supervise children near water, including pools, beaches and lakes. Teach them to swim and provide flotation devices for young children. You can find American Red Cross swim lessons in your area.. For more water safety tips read our water safety consumer alert.
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Respect the rules at amusement parks and fair rides. Many injuries that occur at amusement park and fair rides are preventable by following simple safety guidelines. Obey listed age, height, weight and health restrictions, and follow all directions posted on signs, given by ride operators or announced through recorded messages. These rules were created for everyone’s safety. Read our consumer alert for more safety tips at amusement parks and fairs.
OUTDOOR FUN SAFETY TIPS:
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Wear a helmet. Always wear a helmet when biking or skateboarding and follow traffic rules. For more biking tips, check out our recent consumer alert.
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Grill safely. Cookout fun can quickly turn dangerous if you don’t follow safety procedures when grilling. Remember to only use grills outside in a well-ventilated area. Never use a grill indoors, in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, next to your home or under a surface that will burn. For more safe grilling tips, check out our recent consumer alert.
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Prevent fireworks related injuries. The best way to keep your family safe with fireworks is to leave it to the professionals. Don't use them at home; attend public fireworks displays instead. Children and sparklers are a dangerous combination. This is hot enough to melt some metals. To know what’s legal and what’s not in New York State, read our July 2024 consumer alert.
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Use caution to prevent fires and burn injuries. During summer months, many summer activities such as camping, cookouts, bonfires, and fireworks involve fire. Keep children at least three feet from all heat sources, including campfires, grills, and fire pits. These activities, while enjoyable, also present fire hazards that need to be addressed with safety precautions.
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Shield yourself from burns and bug bites.
- As temperatures rise, applying sunscreen is essential. But when it comes to infants, the best protection is to stay out the sun completely. The Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding sunscreen for babies under 6 months of age.
- No one likes a bug bite. Cover your skin as completely as possible when outside at sunrise, sunset, and early in the evening when mosquitoes are most active. Also, check out the NYS Department of Health’s for more prevention tips.
OUTDOOR WORK SAFETY TIPS:
Product Safety Tips:
- Pay attention and check for product recalls.
A product recall is a request to return a product after a safety issue or defect has been found that could be dangerous. Always check for recalls before buying new or used power tools. You can stay updated on marketplace safety by visiting the USCPSC database and connect with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection on social media for product recall highlights.
- Prevent lithium-ion battery fires.
Keep power tools and equipment stored safely in a cool, dry space. Learn general buying, usage, charging and storage tips by reviewing the Lithium-Ion Battery Consumer Safety Guide.
Follow safety precautions when using the following tools and electricity:
Power Tools Safety Tips:
- Make sure you read the directions first and follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.
- Protect yourself while you work: wear snug clothing and remove jewelry that could get caught in tools.
- Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris.
- When using power tools, never carry them by the cord and keep cords away from heat, oil and sharp edges.
- One power tool that is regularly involved in injuries is a table saw. No matter how expert you are, always use the blade guard for through cuts and use a push stick for small pieces.
- When using battery-powered tools, only use the battery and charger provided by the manufacturer.
- Always keep hands away from moving parts.
- Extreme caution is required when operating a chainsaw. Never cut over your head (kickback can land the chainsaw into your face or shoulder).
- Bear in mind that power tools and alcoholic beverages do not mix well; stay sober to stay safe.
Lawn Mowing Safety Tips:
- Do not allow children to ride on a mower as a passenger. To keep children safe, children should never be in the yard when mowing.
- Before you start mowing, pick up objects like stones, branches and toys, which potentially could become flying objects if you run over them.
- Dress appropriately for the job: sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles, long pants and long-sleeved shirts, close-fitting clothes, eye protection, heavy gloves and hearing protection, when needed.
- Do not mow in reverse, unless absolutely necessary, and always look down and behind you before and while going in reverse.
Electrical Safety Tips:
- Electrical power used outdoors poses a shock or electrocution hazard. Make sure that extension cords are properly grounded, not damaged with exposed wires, rated for outdoor use and suitable for the intended current of the equipment you’re using.
- Avoid using corded power tools in damp or wet conditions. Ensure that receptacles used to supply outdoor power have properly tested ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection or use a portable GFCI.
Make sure you check your deck for loose hardware (nails or screws), rotting boards and eroding foundations.
About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection
Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.